Toppman on the Arts

Local arts criticism — from touring Broadway shows to community theater and museum exhibits — from longtime critic Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

A living room becomes a war zone in 'Virginia Woolf'

Nov 12, 2026

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3 min read

A living room becomes a war zone in 'Virginia Woolf'

This show runs through Nov. 22 at Warehouse Performing Arts Center, 9216 Westmoreland Rd., Cornelius

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

‘Liberation’ might be more relevant than ever

Nov 9, 2026

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3 min read

‘Liberation’ might be more relevant than ever

This Three Bone Theatre production runs through Nov. 22 at The Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Nov 2, 2026

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3 min read

‘Frankenstein’ shows its seams

This show runs through Nov. 15 at Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Whodunit? Dinner guests are dying to know.

Oct 26, 2026

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3 min read

Whodunit? Dinner guests are dying to know.

'Clue: Murder on the Menu' runs through Dec. 6 at Blume Studios, 904 Post St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Oct 19, 2026

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3 min read

Love, loss and a dryer on the porch

CAST's 'Maytag Virgin' runs through Oct. 31 at The Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

A roaring good time, but a hollow Gatsby

Oct 14, 2026

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3 min read

A roaring good time, but a hollow Gatsby

'The Great Gatsby' runs through Sunday at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Charlotte Ballet’s old favorites outshine its new ‘Phoenix’

Oct 9, 2026

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3 min read

Charlotte Ballet’s old favorites outshine its new ‘Phoenix’

'Black Box Series' runs through Oct. 24 at McBride-Bonnefoux Center for Dance, 701 N. Tryon Street

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

‘Tobey Maguire’ comedy gets tangled in its own web

Oct 2, 2026

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3 min read

‘Tobey Maguire’ comedy gets tangled in its own web

"I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire" runs through Oct. 11 at Warehouse Studio Theatre in Cornelius

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

At the Gantt Center, art that cannot be broken

Sep 22, 2026

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4 min read

At the Gantt Center, art that cannot be broken

Review of three exhibitions that run through January at the Harvey B. Gantt Center, 551 S. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

‘Come From Away’ finds kindness in tragedy

Sep 13, 2026

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3 min read

‘Come From Away’ finds kindness in tragedy

This show runs through Oct. 4 at Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Road

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ brings Manhattan fire to Charlotte

Sep 9, 2026

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3 min read

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ brings Manhattan fire to Charlotte

The Alicia Keys musical runs through Sunday at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Charlotte Symphony renews its vows with Kwamé Ryan

Sep 8, 2026

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4 min read

Charlotte Symphony renews its vows with Kwamé Ryan

The music director has extended his contract through 2032

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

‘Sovereignty’ confronts history that still haunts

Aug 25, 2026

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3 min read

‘Sovereignty’ confronts history that still haunts

Three Bone Theatre’s play runs through Sept. 6 at The Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Bechtler exhibit peels back expectations

Aug 18, 2026

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4 min read

Bechtler exhibit peels back expectations

'Collection, Reframed: Jiha Moon' runs through Nov. 9 at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

When ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ rocks, it rolls

Aug 14, 2026

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3 min read

When ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ rocks, it rolls

The musical runs through Aug. 23 at the Cain Center in Cornelius

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Aug 4, 2026

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4 min read

A Brick Master class

The LEGO exhibition runs through Sept. 7 at Discovery Place, 220 W. Sixth St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Jul 20, 2026

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3 min read

Run from the sun, toward the laughter

'Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors' runs through Aug. 9 at Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Jul 13, 2026

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3 min read

Walking among dinosaurs in Charlotte

'Life Chronicles' runs through Aug. 30 at Blume Studios, 904 Post St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Jun 18, 2026

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3 min read

‘Evita’ burns with urgency in Davidson

The Tony-winning musical runs through June 28 in Duke Family Performance Hall on the Davidson College campus

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Jun 8, 2026

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4 min read

A modern griot at the Bechtler

'David McGee: The Griot and the Nightingale' runs through Aug. 23 at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

May 20, 2026

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3 min read

Sparks fly in 'The Notebook'

The musical runs through Sunday at Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

May 11, 2026

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3 min read

Oedipus in the barrio

Three Bone Theatre's “Oedipus el Rey” runs through May 24 at the Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Shattered expectations at Charlotte Ballet

May 8, 2026

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3 min read

Shattered expectations at Charlotte Ballet

“One Thousand Pieces” runs this weekend only at Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

May 4, 2026

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4 min read

A tipsy twist on science

The next "Science on the Rocks" is on May 15 at Discovery Place, 168 W. Sixth St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

Apr 30, 2026

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4 min read

Caravaggio goes for Baroque

The “Caravaggio/Revolution" exhibit runs through Oct. 25 at The Mint Museum, 500 S. Tryon St.

Lawrence Toppman

Toppman on the Arts

A living room becomes a war zone in 'Virginia Woolf'

‘Liberation’ might be more relevant than ever

‘Frankenstein’ shows its seams

Whodunit? Dinner guests are dying to know.

Love, loss and a dryer on the porch

A roaring good time, but a hollow Gatsby

Charlotte Ballet’s old favorites outshine its new ‘Phoenix’

‘Tobey Maguire’ comedy gets tangled in its own web

At the Gantt Center, art that cannot be broken

‘Come From Away’ finds kindness in tragedy

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ brings Manhattan fire to Charlotte

Charlotte Symphony renews its vows with Kwamé Ryan

‘Sovereignty’ confronts history that still haunts

Bechtler exhibit peels back expectations

When ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ rocks, it rolls

A Brick Master class

Run from the sun, toward the laughter

Walking among dinosaurs in Charlotte

‘Evita’ burns with urgency in Davidson

A modern griot at the Bechtler

Sparks fly in 'The Notebook'

Oedipus in the barrio

Shattered expectations at Charlotte Ballet

A tipsy twist on science

Caravaggio goes for Baroque

The Charlotte Ledger